Calving ease Char bull

[Charo]

Two WR Wrangler heifers had Xplorer calves with 81lbs and 82lbs birth weight. Average BW on 15 cows is 99lbs for Xplorer calves. For Wr Wrangler 6 heifers had 78 lbs average birth weight and 15 cows average 94 lbs birth weight. Our average on 125 cows is 99 lbs, they eat free choice hay and they calves in cold barn in January-February. The cows we AI with those 2 bulls have bigger birth weight in general.

 

[Mark H]

The big problem comparing birth weights is that environmental effect and cow size have big impacts here.  The cooler the climate the bigger the birth weights.  Also bigger cows tend to have bigger calves.  To compensate for this is why EPDs were developed. Charo,  What is your average cow size? heifer size at calving?

 

[sue]

If you're on the kick of actual birthweights- the information i can find on xplorer says he was a 96 actual BW

I dont claim to know anything about the bull- interested in learning actually-

He is not promoted as a heifer bull. Just so we are clear- it was my choice after talking to the breeder. I really loved photos of his dam and sire. Also full sibs. You can visit the breeders facebook page for information.

 

[Charo]

EPD are a good tool but a cow with the same bull 2 years in a row can have a calf of the same sex with a 20 pounds difference or more as birth weight. Which genes the calf inherited you never know.
We are into moderate frame but our cows are a bit fat so range 1600-2000 lbs. The heifers calves at around 1200-1400 lbs.
The cow is a 3 years old Shelco Made Easy
The calf is a Wr Wrangler X Made Easy born 22 december 2015.

 

[showmo]

Check out hoo dat it's September and I have a feb bull calf pushing 800 out of him and he started off at 63